JP4065244B2 - Occupant detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant detection device in which a plurality of weight sensors that are turned on by the occupant's weight are arranged on a seat cushion in order to detect an occupant seated on a seat.

  An airbag device for a passenger seat of an automobile detects whether or not an occupant is seated on a seat, and if the occupant is seated at the time of a vehicle collision, the airbag is deployed. The bag is controlled so as not to unfold.

As an occupant detection device used for such a purpose, a device described in Patent Document 1 described below is configured such that a plurality of weight sensors that are turned on by the occupant's body weight are electrically connected in parallel to the upper surface of the seat cushion, and at least When one weight sensor is turned on, the seating of the occupant is detected.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-39045

  However, the above-described conventional device detects the seating of an occupant when any one of a plurality of weight sensors electrically connected in parallel is turned on, so an article such as a handbag is placed on the seat cushion. Even if only one weight sensor is turned on, there is a possibility of erroneous detection that a passenger is seated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. When an occupant seated on a seat is detected by a plurality of weight sensors provided on the seat cushion, an article placed on the seat cushion is erroneously detected as an occupant. The purpose is to prevent.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention described in claim 1, in the occupant detection device in which a plurality of weight sensors that are turned on by the occupant's body weight are arranged on the seat cushion in order to detect the occupant seated on the seat. Front weight sensor group consisting of left and right weight sensors arranged in series on the left and right of the upper surface of the seat cushion so as to correspond to the occupant 's buttocks, and on the left and right of the upper surface of the seat cushion A rear rear weight sensor group consisting of left and right weight sensors connected in series, and the front weight sensor group and the rear weight sensor group are connected in parallel to each other, and the front weight sensor group and between the right and left weight sensor, connects the between the left and right weight sensor of the rear weight sensors together, both of the left and right weight sensor of the at least one weight sensor group simultaneously And when turned on, the right and left weight sensor in different weight sensors is proposed occupant detection device and detecting an occupant and when turned on simultaneously.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the first aspect, the distance between the right and left weight sensor of the front portion weight sensors made narrower than the spacing of the left and right weight sensor of the rear weight sensors An occupant detection device characterized by this is proposed.

According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the configuration of claim 2, the distance between the weight sensor on the left side of the front weight sensor group and the weight sensor on the right side of the rear weight sensor group, and the front weight sensor An occupant detection device is proposed in which the distance between the weight sensor on the right side of the group and the weight sensor on the left side of the rear weight sensor group is set equal to the distance between the left and right weight sensors of the rear weight sensor group .

According to the configuration of claim 1, even if the occupant sits shallowly or deeply on the seat, the load of the buttocks always acts on both the left and right sides of the seat cushion, so at least one of the front and rear weight sensor groups Since both the left and right weight sensors connected in series in the weight sensor group are always turned on, it is possible to reliably detect the seating of the occupant. In addition, since the left and right weight sensors in the front and rear weight sensor groups are connected to each other, even if the occupant sits diagonally on the seat and the left and right weight sensors in different weight sensor groups are turned on at the same time, the occupant is detected. It becomes possible to do. When an article such as a handbag is placed on the seat cushion, there is a low probability that both the left and right weight sensors are turned on at the same time, so the possibility that the article is erroneously detected as an occupant is reduced.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, the distance between the left and right weight sensors in the front weight sensor group is made narrower than the distance between the left and right weight sensors in the rear weight sensor group. Can be prevented, and when the occupant is seated obliquely on the seat, the left and right weight sensors at the diagonal positions can be easily turned on at the same time, thereby improving the seating detection performance of the occupant.

  According to the configuration of claim 3, since the distance between the left and right weight sensors in the diagonal position is set equal to the distance between the left and right weight sensors in the rear weight sensor group, even when the occupant sits diagonally on the seat, Detection performance that is the same as when the occupant is seated straight can be obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet provided with a weight sensor, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3, Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, showing a modification of the weight sensor, Fig. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the main part of Fig. 1. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat S includes a seat cushion 11 and a seat back 12, and four weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L having the same structure are formed on the inner surface of the upper surface of the seat cushion 11. , 14R are arranged. The two weight sensors 13L and 13R constituting the front weight sensor group 13 are disposed in the front portion of the seat cushion 11 so as to be separated from each other in the left-right direction, and the two weight sensors 14L and 14R constituting the rear weight sensor group 14 are disposed. Are arranged in the rear part of the seat cushion 11 so as to be separated from each other in the left-right direction. The two weight sensors 13L, 13R on the front side are connected in series via harnesses a, b, c, d, e to the pair of terminals 15a, 15b of the controller 15 housed in the rear part of the seat cushion 11, The two rear weight sensors 14L and 14R are connected in series via harnesses a, f, g, h, and e, and the front weight sensor group 13 and the rear weight sensor group 14 are connected in parallel to each other. Is done. Furthermore, a harness c that connects the left and right weight sensors 13L and 13R of the front weight sensor group 13 and a harness g that connects the left and right weight sensors 14L and 14R of the rear weight sensor group 14 are connected by a harness i.

  As is apparent from FIG. 6, the distance A between the left and right weight sensors 13L, 13R of the front weight sensor group 13 is set to be narrower than the distance B between the left and right weight sensors 14L, 14R of the rear weight sensor group 14. Yes. Of the four weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L, 14R, the distance between the weight sensor 13L on the left side of the front weight sensor group 13 and the weight sensor 13R on the right side of the rear weight sensor group 14 is set. C and the distance D between the weight sensor 13R on the right side of the front weight sensor group 13 and the weight sensor 13L on the left side of the rear weight sensor group 14 are the distance B between the left and right weight sensors 14L, 14R of the rear weight sensor group 14. Are set equal.

A <B = C = D
Next, the structure of the weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L, 14R will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the structures of the four weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L, 14R are all the same, one weight sensor 13L will be described as a representative.

  The weight sensor 13L is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the lower surface of the skin 21 of the seat cushion 11 and the upper surface of the cushion material 22, and includes an upper film 23 and a lower film 24 made of an elastic material such as synthetic resin. A spacer 25 having a circular opening 25a and sandwiched between the upper film 23 and the lower film 24; a first and a second having flexibility such as carbon fixed on the lower surface of the upper film 23 so as to face the opening 25a; Two electrodes 26 and 27 and a circular third electrode 28 having flexibility such as carbon fixed on the upper surface of the lower film 24 so as to face the opening 25a. The first and second electrodes 26 and 27 formed in a comb shape are arranged so as to enter each other, and each is connected in series in a circuit connecting the pair of terminals 15 a and 15 b of the controller 15.

  Therefore, when the weight of the occupant is applied to the skin 21 of the seat cushion 11, the upper film 23 and the lower film 24 of the weight sensor 13L are deformed so as to be pushed into the opening 25a of the spacer 25 as shown in FIG. Then, the first and second electrodes 26 and 27 fixed to the upper film 23 come into contact with the third electrode 28 fixed to the lower film 24 in the opening 25a. As a result, the first and second electrodes 26 and 27 are electrically connected to each other via the third electrode 28.

  Next, a modified example of the structure of the weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L, 14R will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the structures of the four weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L, 14R of the modification are all the same, the one weight sensor 13L will be described as a representative.

  The weight sensor 13L is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the lower surface of the skin 21 of the seat cushion 11 and the upper surface of the cushion material 22, and includes an upper film 23 and a lower film 24 made of an elastic material such as synthetic resin. A first circular electrode 29 having flexibility such as carbon fixed to the lower surface of the upper film 23; and a second circular electrode 30 having flexibility such as carbon fixed to the upper surface of the lower film 24; The spacer 25 has a circular opening 25 a and is sandwiched between the first and second electrodes 29 and 30. The first and second electrodes 29 and 30 are connected in series in a circuit that connects the pair of terminals 15 a and 15 b of the controller 15.

  Accordingly, when the weight of the occupant is applied to the skin 21 of the seat cushion 11, the upper film 23 and the lower film 24 of the weight sensor 13L are deformed so as to be pushed into the opening 25a of the spacer 25 as shown in FIG. The first electrode 29 fixed to the upper film 23 in the opening 25a comes into contact with the second electrode 30 fixed to the lower film 24 to conduct with each other.

  Therefore, this modification can also achieve the same operational effects as the above-described embodiment.

  When the occupant sits on the seat S, when the seating posture is shallow, a load from the occupant's buttocks acts mainly on the left and right front portions of the seat cushion 11, and the front weight sensor group 13 connected in series is connected. Both of the two weight sensors 13L and 13R that are configured are turned on, and the pair of terminals 15a and 15b of the controller 15 are conducted to detect the seating of the occupant. When the seating position of the occupant on the seat S is deep, the load from the occupant's buttocks acts mainly on the left and right rear portions of the seat cushion 11, and the two weight sensors constituting the rear weight sensor group 14 connected in series 14L and 14R are both turned on, and the pair of terminals 15a and 15b of the controller 15 are conducted to detect the seating of the occupant. Of course, when the occupant is seated in the center of the seat S, the two weight sensors 13L, 13R of the front weight sensor group 13 and the two weight sensors 14L, 14R of the rear weight sensor group 14 are all turned on. However, if both the two front weight sensors 13L and 13R are turned on or both the two rear weight sensors 14L and 14R are turned on, the occupant can be detected reliably.

  On the other hand, when an article such as a handbag is placed on the seat cushion 11, at least one of the four weight sensors 13L, 13R; The possibility that both of the sensors 13L and 13R are turned on or the possibility that both of the two rear weight sensors 14L and 14R are turned on is low, and the probability of erroneously detecting an article as an occupant can be reduced. .

  Thus, since the arrangement and wiring of the weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L, 14R are set in consideration of the shape of the buttock of the occupant seated on the seat S, the detection performance of the occupant detection device can be improved with a simple structure. it can.

  Further, in this embodiment, at least the left and right weight sensors 13L, 13R of the front weight sensor group 13 are simultaneously turned on (see FIG. 7A), and at least the left and right weight sensors 14L, 14R of the rear weight sensor group 14. Can be detected at the same time (see FIG. 7B), at least the weight sensor 13L on the left side of the front weight sensor group 13 and the weight on the right side of the rear weight sensor group 14 can be detected. When the sensor 13R is simultaneously turned on (see FIG. 7C) and at least the right weight sensor 13R of the front weight sensor group 13 and the left weight sensor 13L of the rear weight sensor group 14 are simultaneously turned on (FIG. 7). (See (D)), the seating of the passenger can be detected.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to eliminate detection errors even when the occupant is seated diagonally to the right or when the occupant is seated diagonally to the left. At this time, the distance A between the left and right weight sensors 13L, 13R of the front weight sensor group 13 is set to be narrower than the distance B between the left and right weight sensors 14L, 14R of the rear weight sensor group 14, thereby more specifically. Is the distance C between the weight sensor 13L on the left side of the front weight sensor group 13 in the diagonal position and the weight sensor 13R on the right side of the rear weight sensor group 14, and the right side of the front weight sensor group 13 in the diagonal position. Since the distance D between the weight sensors 13R and the left weight sensor 13L of the rear weight sensor group 14 is set equal to the distance B between the left and right weight sensors 14L and 14R of the rear weight sensor group 14, even when the occupant is seated obliquely, The weight sensors 13L, 13R; 14L, 14R in the diagonal positions can be reliably turned on by the occupant's buttocks.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, Weight sensor 13L, 13R; 14L, structure 14R is not limited to the examples.

Plan view of seat with weight sensor 2-2 line enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3-3 arrow view of FIG. The figure corresponding to the above-mentioned Drawing 2 showing the modification of a weight sensor 5-5 arrow view of FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of the main part Action diagram

Explanation of symbols

S Seat 11 Seat cushion 13 Front weight sensor group 14 Rear weight sensor group 13L Weight sensor 13R Weight sensor 14L Weight sensor 14R Weight sensor A Distance between left and right weight sensors of front weight sensor group B Left and right weights of rear weight sensor group Sensor spacing C Weight sensor on the left side of the front weight sensor group and weight sensor on the right side of the rear weight sensor group Sensor distance D Distance on the right side of the front weight sensor group and weight sensor on the left side of the rear weight sensor group

Claims (3)

In the occupant detection device in which a plurality of weight sensors (13L, 13R; 14L, 14R) that are turned on by the occupant's body weight are disposed on the seat cushion (11) in order to detect the occupant seated on the seat (S),
So as to correspond to the buttocks of the passenger seated, the upper face right weight sensors that are positioned left and right are connected in series of the seat cushion (11) (13L, 13 R) front front weight sensor group consisting of (13 a), it is arranged on both of the upper surface of the seat cushion (11) and a left weight sensors connected in series (14L, rear weight sensors on the rear side consisting 14R) (14), their front weight sensors (13) and rear weight sensors (14) cross with connected in parallel to the, and between the right and left weight sensor of the front weight sensors (13) (13L, 13 R), the rear weight sensor group ( connect the left and right weight sensor (14L of 14), and between the 14R) to each other, right and left weight sensor of the at least one weight sensor group (13,14) (13L, 13R; both 14L, 14R) Passenger detection device comprising; (14L, 14R 13L, 13R) to detect an occupant and when are turned on at the same time as when simultaneously turned on, the right and left weight sensor of different weight sensors (13, 14). Left and right weight sensor (13L, 13R) of the front part weight sensor group (13) is made narrower than the distance (B) of the left and right weight sensor of the rear weight sensors apart (A) of (14) (14L, 14R) The occupant detection device according to claim 1.   The distance (C) between the left weight sensor (13L) of the front weight sensor group (13) and the right weight sensor (13R) of the rear weight sensor group (14) and the right weight of the front weight sensor group (13). The distance (D) between the left weight sensor (13L) of the weight sensor (13R) and the rear weight sensor group (14) is defined as the distance (B) between the left and right weight sensors (14L, 14R) of the rear weight sensor group (14). The occupant detection device according to claim 2, wherein the occupant detection device is set equal to.

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